Patentable/Patents/US-12334398
US-12334398

Multilayer dielectric stack for damascene top-via integration

PublishedJune 17, 2025
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A back-end-of-line (BEOL) component includes a substrate and a first layer of dielectric material arranged on the substrate. The first layer of dielectric material includes openings. The BEOL component further includes a first layer of metal material arranged in the openings. The BEOL component further includes an etch stop layer arranged on top of the first layer of dielectric material. The BEOL component further includes a second layer of metal material in direct contact with the first layer of metal material. The second layer of metal material includes at least one projection extending above the etch stop layer. The BEOL component further includes a second layer of dielectric material arranged on top of the etch stop layer and surrounding the at least one projection.

Patent Claims
20 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. A back-end-of-line (BEOL) component, comprising: a substrate; a first layer of dielectric material arranged on the substrate, the first layer of dielectric material including trench openings, wherein the trench openings are lined with a liner material in direct contact with at least a portion of the substrate; a first layer of metal material forming interconnect lines arranged in the trench openings; an etch stop layer arranged on top of the first layer of dielectric material, wherein the first layer of metal material is separated from both the first layer of dielectric material and the etch stop layer by the liner material; a second layer of metal material in direct contact with the first layer of metal material, the second layer of metal material including at least one projection extending above the etch stop layer, the at least one projection having a shape with at least 2 sidewalls that are coplanar with respective elongated sidewalls of at least one of the interconnect lines of the first layer of metal; a second layer of dielectric material arranged on top of the etch stop layer, in direct contact with at least a portion of an upper surface of the first layer of metal material, and laterally surrounding the at least one projection; and a dielectric cap arranged in direct contact with the substrate and in direct contact with the first layer of dielectric material.

2

2. The BEOL component of claim 1, wherein the second layer of dielectric material is arranged on top of the first layer of metal material.

3

3. The BEOL component of claim 1, wherein the etch stop layer is in direct contact with the first layer of dielectric material.

4

4. The BEOL component of claim 1, wherein the etch stop layer is in direct contact with the second layer of dielectric material.

5

5. The BEOL component of claim 1, wherein the first layer of dielectric material is separated from the second layer of dielectric material by the etch stop layer.

6

6. The BEOL component of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material is different than the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material.

7

7. The BEOL component of claim 6, wherein the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material has a higher dielectric constant than the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material.

8

8. The BEOL component of claim 1, wherein the first layer of dielectric material is separated from the substrate by the dielectric cap.

9

9. A back-end-of-line component, comprising: a substrate; a first layer of dielectric material arranged on the substrate, the first layer of dielectric material including trench openings, wherein the trench openings are lined with a liner material in direct contact with at least a portion of the substrate; a first layer of metal material forming interconnect lines arranged in the trench openings; an etch stop layer arranged on top of the first layer of dielectric material, wherein the first layer of metal material is separated from both the first layer of dielectric material and the etch stop layer by the liner material; a second layer of metal material in direct contact with the first layer of metal material, the second layer of metal material including at least one projection extending above the etch stop layer, the at least one projection having a shape with at least 2 sidewalls that are coplanar with respective elongated sidewalls of at least one of the interconnect lines of the first layer of metal; a second layer of dielectric material arranged on top of the etch stop layer, in direct contact with at least a portion of an upper surface of the first layer of metal material, and laterally surrounding the at least one projection; and a dielectric cap arranged in direct contact with the substrate and in direct contact with the first layer of dielectric material, wherein the first layer of dielectric material is separated from the substrate by the dielectric cap, and wherein the second layer of dielectric material is arranged on top of the first layer of metal material.

10

10. The back-end-of-line component of claim 9, wherein the etch stop layer is in direct contact with the first layer of dielectric material.

11

11. The back-end-of-line component of claim 9, wherein the etch stop layer is in direct contact with the second layer of dielectric material.

12

12. The back-end-of-line component of claim 9, wherein the first layer of dielectric material is separated from the second layer of dielectric material by the etch stop layer.

13

13. The back-end-of-line component of claim 9, wherein the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material is different than the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material.

14

14. The back-end-of-line component of claim 13, wherein the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material has a higher dielectric constant than the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material.

15

15. A back-end-of-line component, comprising: a substrate; a first layer of dielectric material arranged on the substrate, the first layer of dielectric material including trench openings, wherein the trench openings are lined with a liner material in direct contact with at least a portion of the substrate; a first layer of metal material forming interconnect lines arranged in the trench openings; an etch stop layer arranged on top of the first layer of dielectric material, wherein the first layer of metal material is separated from both the first layer of dielectric material and the etch stop layer by the liner material; a second layer of metal material in direct contact with the first layer of metal material, the second layer of metal material including at least one projection extending above the etch stop layer, the at least one projection having a shape with at least 2 sidewalls that are coplanar with respective elongated sidewalls of at least one of the interconnect lines of the first layer of metal; a second layer of dielectric material arranged on top of the etch stop layer, in direct contact with at least a portion of an upper surface of the first layer of metal material, and laterally surrounding the at least one projection; and a dielectric cap arranged in direct contact with the substrate and in direct contact with the first layer of dielectric material, wherein the first layer of dielectric material is separated from the substrate by the dielectric cap, and wherein the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material is different than the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material.

16

16. The back-end-of-line component of claim 15, wherein the second layer of dielectric material is arranged on top of the first layer of metal material.

17

17. The back-end-of-line component of claim 15, wherein the etch stop layer is in direct contact with the first layer of dielectric material.

18

18. The back-end-of-line component of claim 15, wherein the etch stop layer is in direct contact with the second layer of dielectric material.

19

19. The back-end-of-line component of claim 15, wherein the first layer of dielectric material is separated from the second layer of dielectric material by the etch stop layer.

20

20. The back-end-of-line component of claim 15, wherein the dielectric material of the first layer of dielectric material has a higher dielectric constant than the dielectric material of the second layer of dielectric material.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

August 23, 2021

Publication Date

June 17, 2025

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Cite as: Patentable. “Multilayer dielectric stack for damascene top-via integration” (US-12334398). https://patentable.app/patents/US-12334398

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